Jan 25, 2014
Sometimes Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders does something that reminds us that it does actually matter that he's an Independent in the best sense of the word: thinking for himself, not accepting the D.C. "conventional wisdom" that often defines the limits of reform.
The Hillreports:
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says he wants to pay for restoring $6 billion in cuts to military pensions by tapping funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sanders told reporters Wednesday that he was eyeing overseas contingency operations (OCO) to pay for most -- if not all -- of the $30 billion veterans omnibus bill he introduced last week, which includes the repeal of the military retirement benefits cut.
The Veterans Affairs chairman said he believed funds typically used by the Pentagon and State Department for overseas wars should also extend to veterans back at home.
"We use OCO for defense, and I think it's totally legitimate to use it for those who defend us," Sanders said. "I think a significant amount, or all of it, could come from OCO ... I believe having looked at this, there is more than enough money in that fund to fund this legislation."
The National Journalnotes that 18 military and veterans organizations have backed Sanders' proposal, and Sanders says that he believes it will soon have the support of every major veterans organization in the country.
Economists Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes have long argued that we fundamentally undercount the cost of war if we exclude the cost of caring for veterans afterwards. The future cost of caring for veterans is a fundamental cost of war, and honest budgeting would include it in accounting for war cost.
In addition to providing direct benefit to veterans, Sanders' proposal, if enacted, would help right a fundamental and dangerous wrong: pretending that caring for veterans is not a cost of war. You can urge Congress and the President to support Senator Sanders' proposal here.
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Robert Naiman
Robert Naiman is Policy Director at Just Foreign Policy. Naiman has worked as a policy analyst and researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch. He has masters degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Illinois and has studied and worked in the Middle East.
Sometimes Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders does something that reminds us that it does actually matter that he's an Independent in the best sense of the word: thinking for himself, not accepting the D.C. "conventional wisdom" that often defines the limits of reform.
The Hillreports:
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says he wants to pay for restoring $6 billion in cuts to military pensions by tapping funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sanders told reporters Wednesday that he was eyeing overseas contingency operations (OCO) to pay for most -- if not all -- of the $30 billion veterans omnibus bill he introduced last week, which includes the repeal of the military retirement benefits cut.
The Veterans Affairs chairman said he believed funds typically used by the Pentagon and State Department for overseas wars should also extend to veterans back at home.
"We use OCO for defense, and I think it's totally legitimate to use it for those who defend us," Sanders said. "I think a significant amount, or all of it, could come from OCO ... I believe having looked at this, there is more than enough money in that fund to fund this legislation."
The National Journalnotes that 18 military and veterans organizations have backed Sanders' proposal, and Sanders says that he believes it will soon have the support of every major veterans organization in the country.
Economists Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes have long argued that we fundamentally undercount the cost of war if we exclude the cost of caring for veterans afterwards. The future cost of caring for veterans is a fundamental cost of war, and honest budgeting would include it in accounting for war cost.
In addition to providing direct benefit to veterans, Sanders' proposal, if enacted, would help right a fundamental and dangerous wrong: pretending that caring for veterans is not a cost of war. You can urge Congress and the President to support Senator Sanders' proposal here.
Robert Naiman
Robert Naiman is Policy Director at Just Foreign Policy. Naiman has worked as a policy analyst and researcher at the Center for Economic and Policy Research and Public Citizen's Global Trade Watch. He has masters degrees in economics and mathematics from the University of Illinois and has studied and worked in the Middle East.
Sometimes Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders does something that reminds us that it does actually matter that he's an Independent in the best sense of the word: thinking for himself, not accepting the D.C. "conventional wisdom" that often defines the limits of reform.
The Hillreports:
Senate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) says he wants to pay for restoring $6 billion in cuts to military pensions by tapping funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Sanders told reporters Wednesday that he was eyeing overseas contingency operations (OCO) to pay for most -- if not all -- of the $30 billion veterans omnibus bill he introduced last week, which includes the repeal of the military retirement benefits cut.
The Veterans Affairs chairman said he believed funds typically used by the Pentagon and State Department for overseas wars should also extend to veterans back at home.
"We use OCO for defense, and I think it's totally legitimate to use it for those who defend us," Sanders said. "I think a significant amount, or all of it, could come from OCO ... I believe having looked at this, there is more than enough money in that fund to fund this legislation."
The National Journalnotes that 18 military and veterans organizations have backed Sanders' proposal, and Sanders says that he believes it will soon have the support of every major veterans organization in the country.
Economists Joseph Stiglitz and Linda Bilmes have long argued that we fundamentally undercount the cost of war if we exclude the cost of caring for veterans afterwards. The future cost of caring for veterans is a fundamental cost of war, and honest budgeting would include it in accounting for war cost.
In addition to providing direct benefit to veterans, Sanders' proposal, if enacted, would help right a fundamental and dangerous wrong: pretending that caring for veterans is not a cost of war. You can urge Congress and the President to support Senator Sanders' proposal here.
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.